• The pavilion features a series of exhibitions representing Emirati culture and explain the history of the country, as well as the story of its leaders and their vision

Farah Heiba

DUBAI: A celebration of Emirati culture, as well as the country’s prosperity and growth are the main feature of the UAE Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The pavilion features a series of exhibitions representing Emirati culture and explain the history of the country, as well as the story of its leaders and their vision.

Arab News went on a tour to explore the pavilion, the largest structure that sits at the heart of the Expo site.

The celebration of the nation starts before you even enter the pavilion – visitors pass Al-Ghaf trees planted around the building.

The drought-tolerant Al-Ghaf is the UAE’s national tree and has a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace, which also can withstand the blistering summertime temperatures.

Inside the pavilion, visitors start their tour in a room featuring a floor with sand covered corners to reflect the country’s desert landscape.

Laser projectors displaying images and videos of the Emirate’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, his voice playing in the background.

In a corner of the room, named the Cross Roads Area, stands a structure decorated with lights and objects.

This structure symbolizes trade between the UAE and other countries including Africa.

Visitors then enter the next room on their journey featuring large screens showing images of UAE culture.

Finally, people enter a theatre to watch a short animation about the Gulf country.

The audience is engaged with the usual sound and vision, but also experience a sensation of motion as their chairs move in tandem with the sites and sounds laid out before them on the screen.

The pavilion covers an area of 15,000 square meters and includes an auditorium, food and beverage outlets and VIP lounges.

Its roof structure is made up of 28 wings, which can be opened within three minutes, covering a range of 110 and 125 degrees.